2014 NLCS Pre-Discussion

[calsnowskier]

Lets talk about the series here until the GDTs start up...

 

[msgkings322]

Good idea. I too don't know, is the format 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1?

 

[msgkings322]

My dad just noted that the Cards have no lefty starters, which is good for us as we have better hitting from the left side (only Posey and Pence true righties, although Morse's return changes that a bit).

 

[calsnowskier]

What is the exact schedule for the NLCS? 2-3-2?

Game 1: Saturday
Game 2: Sunday
Game 3: Tuesday (?)
Game 4: Wednesday (?)
Game 5: Thursday (?)
Game 6: Saturday (?)
Game 7: Sunday (?)

This is it.

Assuming this is true, then the SPs SHOULD be (of course there will be many last-minute changes)...

Game 1: Saturday -- Bum (4)
Game 2: Sunday -- Peavey (7)
Game 3: Tuesday -- Hudson (7)
Game 4: Wednesday -- Vogey (7)
Game 5: Thursday -- Bum (4)
Game 6: Saturday -- Peavey (5)
Game 7: Sunday -- Hudson (5)

Without having someone go on short rest, no one will get 3 starts, so I have no problem with Bum getting the extra day. However, I do not think there is any chance Bum does not go in game 1. That way, Boch will be able to start him in game 4 if the need is there (down 1-2, MAYBE down 0-3).

 

[calsnowskier]

My dad just noted that the Cards have no lefty starters, which is good for us as we have better hitting from the left side (only Posey and Pence true righties, although Morse's return changes that a bit).

I prefer to keep Morse on the bench. His bat is not significant enough to put up with his defense.

 

[msgkings322]

I prefer to keep Morse on the bench. His bat is not significant enough to put up with his defense.

This is indeed possible maybe probable...his timing has to be messed up from the long layoff too.

Perfect PH vs lefties...that said I could see him starting and getting 2 ABs some games, we'll see. Might depend on matchups, whether Ishi or Morse have a better history vs a given SP

It's such a pleasure to have total confidence in the manager's ability to figure this out for maximum effectiveness. And in short playoff baseball series it's a true weapon. Look at the mess Ausmus, Williams, Mattingly, etc made of their teams...

 

[Robotech]

Good idea. I too don't know, is the format 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1?

2-3-2

Source: mlb.com

 

[calsnowskier]

The Cards' rotation could be...

Sat - Wainwright (7)
Sun - Lackey (5)
Tue- Lynn (8)
Wed - Miller (7)
...

This was their NLDS roster...

Pitchers (12):
Randy Choate-LHP
Sam Freeman-LHP
Marco Gonzales-LHP
John Lackey-RHP
Lance Lynn-RHP
Seth Maness-RHP
Carlos Martinez-RHP
Shelby Miller-RHP
Pat Neshek-RHP
Trevor Rosenthal-RHP
Michael Wacha-RHP
Adam Wainwright-RHP

Catchers (2):
Tony Cruz
Yadier Molina

Infielders (6):
Matt Adams
Matt Carpenter
Daniel Descalso
Pete Kozma
Jhonny Peralta
Kolten Wong

Outfielders (5):
Peter Bourjos
Randal Grichuk
Matt Holliday
Jon Jay
Oscar Taveras

 

[Mays-Fan]

Good idea. I too don't know, is the format 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1?

2-3-2.

STL Oct 11-12
SF Oct 14-15-16
STL Oct 18-19

Postseason Schedule | MLB.com

 

[Mays-Fan]

Do we get Morse back for sure? I noticed him joining the victory lap and he jogged quite normally.

We really need him most for the Serious to DH, if we make it.

 

[SF11704]

Just a question. In the regular season we can let our starters go 5-6 innings even if they are having a somewhat bad outing. With 162 games in the schedule this is not uncommon. See if they can workout their problems. In a division or championship series that's not really the case I would think. Just don't have the 'games' left to maybe bounce back. How long do you think we let a starter go before we pull him to hopefully stem the damage and give us a chance to respond? This is where I can see a Petit coming in if necessary. 4-5-6 innings and 4 runs given up?

 

[msgkings322]

Just a question. In the regular season we can let our starters go 5-6 innings even if they are having a somewhat bad outing. With 162 games in the schedule this is not uncommon. See if they can workout their problems. In a division or championship series that's not really the case I would think. Just don't have the 'games' left to maybe bounce back. How long do you think we let a starter go before we pull him to hopefully stem the damage and give us a chance to respond? This is where I can see a Petit coming in if necessary. 4-5-6 innings and 4 runs given up?

You're quite right that you can have a shorter leash in the playoffs but I doubt there's any hard and fast guidelines, it's always situational. Depends on pinch hitting opportunities too. As always, glad our manager is one of the best at this.

 

[Mays-Fan]

Do we get Morse back for sure? I noticed him joining the victory lap and he jogged quite normally.

We really need him most for the Serious to DH, if we make it.

All right, I'll answer my own question:

**********************

October 8, 2014 4:21 pm
Bochy: Giants OF Michael Morse must earn return for NLCS
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

Bruce Bochy has stated that Giants outfelder Michael Morse will be added to the playoff roster for the NLCS clash against St. Louis if he hits well in Arizona workouts leading up to the series opener, per The Associated Press.

Morse has been out since Sept. 19 with an oblique injury. He had just four at-bats in September to finish the regular season with a stat line of .279/.336/.475.

Michael Morse, LF, San Francisco Giants, MLB Baseball - CBSSports.com

 

[calsnowskier]

KNBR reporting that Wainwright is questionable for the NLCS due to tendonitis in his pitching arm...

 

[jeep99tj]

Just got word Morse will be on the NLCS roster. Bochy isn't commiting to Morse starting any games.

 

[calsnowskier]

Just got word Morse will be on the NLCS roster. Bochy isn't commiting to Morse starting any games.

So he flew to Arizona and had his "competitive" workouts in Arizona already? Wow.

 

[jeep99tj]

Guess so.

 

[jeep99tj]

Ok, he hasn't done his Arizona stint yet but Bochy is expecting it to go well.

 

[SunsGiantsNiners]

I would not start Morse. Have him pinch hit for now but who knows. Should be a 6-7 game series I'm sure.

 

[Mays-Fan]

I would not start Morse. Have him pinch hit for now but who knows. Should be a 6-7 game series I'm sure.

Yeah, tough call with Ishi/Perez hitting so poorly, but at least we have relatively known quantities fielding-wise. Morse is bound to be rusty. We could start Morse, then pull him ASAP for defensive purposes - but that's nothing new.

I wonder if Bochy was less than pleased with Ishi's positioning on that play at third with Bum and Pablo. The ball got by Ishi and that led to another run (Harper scoring from first). If that was Morse, we'd all be screaming about him.

But if this is our biggest problem, we're pretty well off.